Major US indices open lower

US dollar exhibits strength in response to recent declines

By Farah Mourad | 8 May 2024

Market close
  • Wall Street starts on a downward trend, reflecting mixed European trading

  • WTI crude dips below $78

  • Gold maintains resilience above $2,300 amid hawkish Fed tones

The opening bell on Wall Street rang out with a somber note as major US stock indices dipped into negative territory. This downward trend was mirrored across the Atlantic, following a mixed bag of trading in Europe. Notably, small-cap stocks took a hit, trailing behind their larger counterparts as the session commenced.

Currencies

the US dollar displayed notable strength in the initial hours of the trading day. However, this surge is largely perceived as a rebound from the declines witnessed in the first week of May, subsequent to a brief consolidation phase towards the end of April.

Gold

Despite an early dip to the $2,310 range on Wednesday, gold swiftly rebounded, inching towards the $2,320 mark. The hawkish rhetoric emanating from Federal Reserve policymakers contributed to a slight uptick in US Treasury bond yields, might create some headwinds for gold's bullish momentum.

Oil

The oil market experienced a downturn following unexpected remarks from Iran regarding potential output increases. WTI crude oil prices slipped below the $78 threshold, signaling a trajectory towards the $75 mark.